BATON ROUGE — With temperatures rising across South Louisiana, first responders are warning parents and pet owners about the dangers of leaving children and pets in hot cars.

Emergency crews say children and pets are especially vulnerable to heat illness, and officials note that warning signs can escalate into severe conditions before most people realize it.

Brad Harris, an EMS public information officer, said the progression happens fast.

"They're going to sweat initially, they're going to get real hot, real flushed. But over time, if they're in that environment for too long, they go unresponsive, they can have seizure activity," Harris said. "Same things for pets. They don't sweat as we do; they pant."

EMS officials say heat stroke can lead to seizures, unconsciousness, and even death as body temperatures continue to rise. It also doesn't take long for conditions inside a vehicle to become dangerous.

"Whenever you have a vehicle that's out in the sun for an extended amount of time, it only takes about 10 minutes, and the vehicle can raise to 20 degrees," Harris said. "So if it's say 80 degrees outside, it can easily get up to 100 degrees in the vehicle."

Afternoon temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s over the next several days, with humidity making it feel even hotter.

According to national safety data, an average of 37 children die each year in the United States from vehicular heatstroke. There were 31 reported deaths in 2025, and data from NoHeatStroke.org shows seven pediatric deaths have already been reported this year.

Many of those deaths happen when a child is accidentally left behind or gains access to an unlocked vehicle. Experts say simple habits, like checking the back seat and keeping vehicles locked, can save lives.

Harris said the advice comes down to awareness.

"I would just say use common sense. If it's hot to you, it's going to be hot to your child or your pet as well," he said.

First responders say the message is simple: never leave a child or pet inside a parked car, because what feels like a few minutes can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency.